AGS North Midland Show, 5th April

[veteran vet]

As is his norm Don Peace produced many high quality entries, among which were
Dianthus 'Rivendell' (52) first time I have seen it this year
Androsace muscoidea (53)
Primula petelottii (53)

[Maggi Young]

Daphne petraea 'Lidora' - one does  sometimes see this plant listed as 'Lidora', but I think the more correct name is 'Lydora'

[veteran vet]

I can't work out why it posts before I press 'post', seems to do it when I hit the 'enter' key
Primula 'Allen Glory' (54) from Tommy Anderson part of his three pan entry in the 3 pan primula, caused some controversy did this class, first time I have ever seen those who judged the class called to explain their reasoning before the other judges by the show director...still stayed the same after that...judging is an individual thing to some extent and that's the way it goes.
Primula bracteata (56) Geoff Rollinson
Primula auricula (57) Clare Oates...mine have a bit to go before they are in full flower, hope they look like this
Cyclamen libanoticum (60) Janet Aspland
Cyclamen persicum (60) B&S Smith, I always have trouble photographing cyclamen in the show hall, liked the colour of this one

[veteran vet]

Draba oreades (61) Dave Charlton
Corydalis bracteata (62) Geoff Rollinson...my plants have been very slow at coming through this year, they seemed to enjoy the higher temperature and blue sky yesterday though
Ornithogalum bungii (64) Neil Hubbard, another new one for me, quite liked this one
Ophrys bertolonii (65) Barry Tattersall, I have tried this once or twice, never seem to be able to keep them going after flowering
From the tiny to the large
Rhododendron moerheim (98) Norman Davies

[Maggi Young]

Having lifted some of the large pots at judging time to the inspection table I can assure you that some of them were heavy, had to be at least 40-50lbs weight, I think the AGS should supply strong young men to lift these pots for us of the older generation or supply fork lift 'trucks' or any other suggestions?

Can't help feeling that would do wonders for membership recruitment, George!

[Maggi Young]

You're showing some great pictures of great plants, George.  Really enjoying the variety.

[Martinr]

George, so many other judges protested about the decision I wasn't left with much choice! The good thing is the trio had done a good job and were so erudite and logical in their explanation of the choice that the assembled throng agreed the results stood. I think I did the right thing....must have done, didn't get my ear bent all afternoon about it

[David Nicholson]

Thanks George.

Primula pelottii-scrumptious. A Vietnamese Primula-anyone know how to grow it?

Are there any rules about more than one plant in a pot? I'm not saying there was in the case of the lovely Primula auricula but there might have been?

[Martinr]

David, looks like 1 plant of P auricula to me but to answer your question..........you can have as many plants in the pot as you like as long as they are all the same clone/species. of course in a raised from seed class you might expect to see variation. Read all about it in the shows handbook, available on line.

cheers

Martin

[David Nicholson]

Cheers Martin.

[veteran vet]

More pictures in a moment, but I do think the P auricula was one plant. Martin as far as I am concerned was all done and dusted on the day, all right some folks did not agree with the original judging decision but after a re-trial the decision stood...if we did not go down that route we would end up having 12 judges doing each class, show might not open at 12 though!!!
Cyclamen rhodium ssp peleponnesiacum (64) Cecilia Coller
Anacamptis morio (65) Neil Hubbard, hoping mine will be ready for Cleveland
Iris babadagica (68) Cecilia Coller
Fritillaria pineticola (70) Janet Aspland
Narcissus 'Solveigs Song' (71) Les Brown....have this somewhere, must have a look for it as is rather nice
   

[veteran vet]

It is not often I win a three pan Fritillaria class when Don Peace is around but managed it in (69) with
Fritillaria reuteri
Fritillaria amana 'Goksan Gold'...third show for this plant so good value there. Robert Rofe says it should be Goksun but it came from Ron McBeath as how I have it, does anyone have a definitive view
Fritillaria tubiformis
Staying with Frits Don Peace had three in to win the Fieldhouse Trophy, 3 from seed (86) two of which were
Fritllaria crassifolia kurdica
Fritllaria tuntaisia....really liked this

[veteran vet]

Just time for one more post before got some work to do
Astragalus coccineus and
Lewisia tweedyi rosea, both in (72) Peter Farkasch...how this plant came on during the day in the warmth of the hall
There was some discussion on
Townsendia spathulata 'Cotton Balls (73) as there were two plants on show with different colour to the flowers, one from me, one from F&B Hoyle (no they do small pans as well as stonkers
Towsendia spathulata 'Pryor Mountain Form' Edward Spencer, is another of those plants in my 'used to have column', mores the pity

[Maggi Young]

Fritillaria amana 'Goksan Gold'...third show for this plant so good value there. Robert Rofe says it should be Goksun but it came from Ron McBeath as how I have it, does anyone have a definitive view

Definitive?  On a plant name? Doesn't happen very often -  but there is information!  Fritillaria amana 'Goksan Gold' is listed - with one supplier, in the RHS Plant Finder.  'Goksun Gold' is not listed but has thousands of search engine hits as opposed to a few dozen  for 'Goksan Gold'

Now we come to something rather more definitive  -
Laurence Hills Fritillaria Icones site http://www.fritillariaicones.com/icones/ic100/Fritillaria_Icones118.pdf - shows details of F. amana from the Wallises   from  "SE of Goksun, Kahramamaras "- which gives us the name of the area ....
 and this  " Supplementary data
Plant material – Norman Stevens (Cambridge Bulbs, UK) 2004. Cultivar name Goksun Gold "
 

[ChrisB]

Many thanks for posting your pics here George and such good commentary with them too.  Looks like it was a wonderful show!